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Auction: 9022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 43

x Four: Barman and Domestic Second Class F. Batchelor, Royal Navy Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (F. Batchelor. Dom: 2. Cl. H.M.S. Simoom. 73-74.); South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (F. Batchelor, Dom: 2Cl: H.M.S. "Tamar"); Egypt 1882-89, dated, no clasp (F. Batchelor. Barman. Dom: 2Cl: H.M.S. "Tamar"); Khedive´s Star 1882, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine and rare (4) Estimate £ 450-550 Frank Batchelor born Fareham, Hampshire, 1845; joined the Royal Navy, 1864, he served as Wardroom Servant in H.M.S. Asia, later that year; his next duty carried a title of considerable rarity and interest, "Cadet´´s Servant 2nd Class´´, when he became one of many Domestics mirroring the functions of Second Valets in country homes to the future ´´Young Gentlemen´´ and erstwhile Admirals of Her Britannic Majesty´´s Navy; since 1858 naval cadets had been universally trained afloat, first aboard H.M.S. Illustrious which was superseded by H.M.S. Britannia, a name inseparable today from initial training of officers; Batchelor served in Britannia, from February 1866; transferred as Captain´´s Servant in H.M.S. Himalaya, from March 1868; served in H.M.S. Simoom from May 1873; transferred H.M.S. Tamar, October 1876; Only the medal roll for the Egypt campaign gives the clue that his duty by now was that of Barman, his service papers merely record his rank as the unglamorous title Domestic 2nd Class, and by good fortune the engraver included his function and his Rate on the edge of this award. Provenance: Captain K.J. Douglas-Morris, R.N., Collection

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